「屋形船」 or "Dinner on a boat!"

Tonight was the most Japanese experience of my summer: yakata-bune. This is a dinner cruise on a Japanese type of boat that has tatami mats for flooring.  Everyone sits on a cushion on the floor, and the food is served on griddles set into low tables.  I did a terrible job of getting a good picture of the inside of the boat--if one of my friends has one, I'll come back and edit this post to include it.

A little pricey--6,000 yen for 2 hours of all you can eat/drink--but the food was great and the view spectacular.  We had monja-yaki, okonomi-yaki, yakisoba, and then anko-maki for dessert while enjoying the scenery of Tokyo Bay and the city itself.  Also included in the cost were expressions of envy from everyone I told about the trip beforehand.

Okkonomi-yaki: a savory, pancake-like dish and my personal favorite from the evening's menu.

Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo cityscape from the deck of our boat.

Wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to maximize the "Japanese-ness" of the experience, I purchased a yukata (a light, single-layered cotton kimono worn in summer) just for the occasion.  My friend, Akiko, wore one of the most gorgeous kimonos and a beautiful obi (sash).

 

Akiko's kimono from the back.  The black sash is called the "obi".

A lot of firsts tonight: first yakata-bune, first monja-yaki, first time wearing my very own yukata--not to mention putting a whole outfit together that included geta (sandals), and a handbag tied from a furoshiki scarf.  Memorable night!